“A collection of profound and epic album reviews and musical articles by former astronaut and brain surgeon, Alasdair Kennedy. Reaching levels of poetry that rival Keats and Blake, the following reviews affirm Alasdair to be a prodigy, a genius and a god whose opinion is always objectively right. He is also without a doubt the most modest man in the universe.” - Alasdair Kennedy

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Friday, 23 December 2016

BEST AND WORST NEW TRACKS OF THE WEEK 23/12/2016: Pool Art, Daniel Caeser, Mick Jenkins and more...

I wasn’t going to do any more 'tracks of the week' segments this year, but I’ve been getting some good stuff
sent my way in the last fortnight and just had to share it. This may well be
the last post of 2016, so Merry Christmas and a happy a new year! Wait, where’s
my card and present?

THE BEST:

‘Gender Balance’ – Pool Art

Following on from their previous doomy
single (which made my tracks of the year), Manchester experimental rock duo
Pool Art are back with another woozy dirge made up of strident percussion and
shoegazey vocals. It’s not as immediately creepy, the chorus almost feel
triumphant, but then the whole track dissipates into an effects-soaked howl
that sounds like something between cosmic whalesong and those menacing robots
from War of The Worlds. Being creative with a guitar in 2016 is difficult, but
these guys are pushing things forward.

‘Call Me Danger’- Tayla

This funky pop tune was written
for anyone ‘feeling 100% confident and
not giving a flying fuck about what anyone else thinks’ according to the
Birmingham artist herself. I’m a little late on the bandwagon on this one (the
track was released in August, which is prehistory in blogging terms), but
perhaps you can still find use for this summer jam, if anything to warm up
these winter months.

‘Get You’ – Daniel Caeser ft. Kali Uchis

You really shouldn’t go on
appearances. From the haircut, I expected some Lil-Yachty-style party rap, but
what ensued instead was a sensually crooned r&b slowjam. If a song could make you pregnant, this would be it. In fact, slip some condoms over your headphones whilst listening. Better safe than sorry.

Bolton-based plinky plonky pop band Limbs (check out my interview with them earlier this year) have just released a Christmas EP. This humorous yuletide ditty takes the idea of a bird-in-a-bird-in-a-bird to new levels, with a crazy cook luring various feathered creatures into his kitchen to be part of his Frankenstein’s experiment. And you thought all the original Christmas song ideas had been taken?

‘Aurora Borealis’ – Mick Jenkins ft. Kaytranada

Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins and
Canadian producer Kaytranada have both released critically acclaimed debut
albums this year, so to see them both tie off 2016 by collaborating on a
track is quite the treat.

THE WORST:

‘Waltz Of The Dead’ – Choking On Air

The composition is creative, but
that MIDI violin sounds like it’s off a kid’s keyboard, plus the vocals are
plain diabolical (and not in a devilish sense).